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Nursery at Brunswick Nursery School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Clay, mud and conversation give Brunswick its character: children explore materials while adults help them find words for their ideas. This is a local authority funded nursery school on Young Street in Cambridge, offering places to children aged two to four, with funded and paid attendance options. It belongs to Cambridge Nursery Federation. The next step is a move to primary school.
The June 2026 Ofsted findings give curriculum and teaching a Strong standard judgement. Language development stands out: younger children learn to explain what they need, while older children exchange ideas and listen to one another. These are useful foundations for friendships as well as learning.
Play takes up most of the day. Brunswick uses continuous provision, organising resources for children to choose and pursue activities, with adults adding experiences around their interests and developmental needs. There are adult-led activities too. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, movement, relationships, early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world through these everyday experiences.
Nursery rooms and a large, walled garden provide indoor and outdoor learning space. Children make pictures and early writing outdoors as well as inside, explore counting and shapes, and choose materials for their creations. Cooking involves following recipes and tasting food; music includes singing, instruments and making rhythms with their bodies. Choice has a purpose here: children practise planning, adapting and trying again.
Projects involving clay, glue and mud turn exploration into opportunities for conversation and persistence. The report dated 2 June 2026 describes children persisting when rolling or shaping clay proved difficult. Independence also extends to looking after shared resources, from putting equipment away to cleaning brushes. Animal encounters and contact with care-home residents introduce children to the wider world. In January 2026, visitors from Langdon House Care Home joined children for books, songs and home-corner play.
A key person is allocated before a child starts, giving the family a familiar adult through the transition. Children can visit and play beforehand, and every child receives a keyworker home visit. Additional visits and an individual settling plan can be arranged for children with additional needs. Progress meetings and informal conversations keep parents involved after the initial start.
Teachers, teaching assistants and keyworkers work with a qualified SENCo on individual plans and adaptations. Support can involve Speech Therapists, Health Visitors or Educational Psychologists. June 2026 findings describe carefully adjusted activities for children with SEND and effective help for children beginning to learn English. Safeguarding standards were met. The improvement action is to keep strengthening teaching and the curriculum so more children, especially those facing disadvantage or with SEND, achieve highly throughout their learning.
Lunch is cooked at The Fields Nursery School using fresh ingredients each day. Water and milk are provided during sessions, and families are asked to contribute fruit for snacks. Mealtimes give children opportunities to chat with adults and friends. Staff also support parents with toileting, bedtime routines and meals; intimate care preserves children's dignity.
Attendance at Brunswick does not guarantee a place at any particular primary school. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal primary admissions process. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery attendance.
Preparation for the move is practical. During the summer term, Reception teachers and school SENCos come to meet children and exchange information with nursery staff. Records pass to the receiving setting, with transition meetings where appropriate. Some children have extra visits to their new school, sometimes accompanied by nursery staff. These arrangements support continuity of care and learning; they do not secure admission.
Brunswick operates during school terms. The school day runs from 8.45am to 2.45pm, with an extended option until 3.45pm. Morning sessions are 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.45pm to 3.45pm. Breakfast club starts at 8am, and after school club finishes at 5.15pm. Families request their attendance pattern on a session form.
Universal funding covers 15 hours weekly from the term following a child's third birthday. Eligible working families with children aged two to four may receive up to 30 hours. Breakfast and after school clubs fall outside funded hours; the extended day's additional hour is charged. Paid sessions can supplement funding. Lunch donations are requested for funded all-day children, alongside a voluntary consumables contribution. Ask the school for current charges.
Parents supply nappies and sun cream. For enquiries, contact the administrative team on 01223 508790 or office@brunswick.cambs.sch.uk; application forms can be downloaded and returned to the nursery with proof of address and birth date.
Places are offered to children aged two to four, with and without funding.
Yes. The morning session runs from 8.45am to 11.45am, and families request sessions using the attendance form.
Children can visit and play before starting and receive a keyworker home visit. Children with additional needs may have extra visits and an individual settling plan.
No. Nursery attendance does not determine admission to a particular primary school, and Reception requires a separate application.
The Fields Nursery School cooks lunches daily using fresh ingredients. Allergen information is held by the office.
